Matt Hancock has shrugged off concerns about a four-week reduction in coronavirus vaccine supplies, set to impact the UK from 29 March for a period of four weeks.
The NHS warned of the “significant reduction” in Covid-19 jabs, owing to a depletion in weekly “national inbound vaccines supply”, in a letter that was revealed by the BBC moments before a news briefing led by Mr Hancock at No 10 on Wednesday evening.
Local health organisations received letters to say “supply constraint means vaccination centres and community pharmacy-led local vaccination services should close unfilled bookings” from that date. They were also warned to ensure no further appointments are uploaded to the national or local booking system from 1 to 30 April.
Mr Hancock argued at the Covid press event that the NHS letter was a “standard” operational letter.
Earlier, the EU threatened to restrict exports of vaccines in order to guarantee it has enough jabs for its own citizens, as the UK passed the milestone of 25 million jabs. But the health secretary later rubbished these claims, saying the UK “fully expects” the bloc to uphold its immunisation contracts.
Read more:
